Checking for multiple layers existing using arcpy.Exists

Question

Is it possible to check for more than one layer at a time?

I would like to do this (pseudocode):

if arcpy.Exists(vriLyr AND rsltLyr AND forCovLyr):
 <skip ahead>
else:
 arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management(vriLyr, "INTERSECT", areaBoundary)
 arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management(rsltLyr, "INTERSECT", areaBoundary)
 arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management(forCovLyr, "INTERSECT", areaBoundary)

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

You can only pass one dataset at a time to arcpy.Exists, but you just as easily can chain them together with and:

if arcpy.Exists(vriLyr) and arcpy.Exists(rsltLyr) and arcpy.Exists(forCovLyr):

This can get pretty unwieldy once the number of layers starts to grow, so I'd suggest the equivalent:

if all(arcpy.Exists(lyr) for lyr in [vriLyr, rsltLyr, forCovLyr]):

• Hornbydd: Did not know about the all() function, like it!
• Paul: any and all are pretty neat.